Private Open Arms

[Ra'a'mah]

To think Ra had left her early days in the dust wasn't entirely true. She thought of the Dominion and the people she met there occasionally. Now was one of those times. Word had reached her through old messengers that a friend was looking for work. Rather, he was taking on odd jobs here and there. Feeling he could use something stable, she contacted him and expected him to arrive on Naboo soon.

She had become a different person than she had been back then. She wondered how much Harris had changed in the years since they had last seen each other. Time would tell, and she would learn the answer soon.

Vincent met him at the door when her friend arrived and invited him in. Guiding him to her office, he offered him refreshments and would bring them if he wanted them. Ra greeted him with a friendly smile and a shake that turned into a hug if he allowed it. Taking a step back, she looked at him from head to toe and returned her gaze to meet his.

"It's great to see you again, Harris. Was your journey smooth?"

With the recent hyperlanes collapsing, even Ra sometimes had difficulty getting anywhere easily.

William Harris

 

[William Harris]

"B1, What's the ETA?" Harris walked slowly behind the pilot; a repurposed B1 battle droid from the ancient clone wars. Honestly it was a miracle this thing still functioned, but I guess a millennia of floating in deep space had left him mostly alright- despite the tendency to say whatever popped into his circuits.

"Mr Harris, for the last time, we will arrive at 14:06 Galactic standard. I can't make this bucket of bolts go any faster." The droid swung it's insectoid head back to see Harris, disapprovingly standing with his hand on his hip, he simply rubbed his temples; clearly irritated, before stepping towards the droid.
"Bee, what have I told you about saying those things about yourself?"

The droid swiveled it's head back, as close to an insulted expression a faceless droid could make, but the message wasn't lost. "Thank you Bee, I'm going to get read. It would be wise of you to clean up well yourself, no need making a bad first impression."

Bee let out a disgruntled mutter- barely audible, as Harris turned away and began walking out of the cockpit of the MU-2. Slipping the right corner out of the cockpit, Harris entered the quarters. This ancient ship was at one point capable of carrying 4 sleeping cabins, but after retrofits and modernization, Harris had merged two of them into one long master bedroom; home away from home.

He approached the mirror, inspecting carefully the brown tunic and black trousers he wore. It may not be an imperial uniform, but he still took care of it as if it were. Harris leaned close to the mirror, a split-second reaction of mild-disappointment as he noticed yet another line forming on his cheeks. Crazy to believe that a decade ago he was in charge of a mostly-functional empire, in the prime of his life; and now 50 crept on and he had an old ship, more money then he could spend, and an old bickering droid for company. Harris turned his head slightly, rubbing his hand through his beard. With one dissatisfied groan he flipped the mirror away and approached the dresser across from his bed. Reaching into a drawer, he pulled out a small wrist comm-link. Strapping it on like a watch before turning to grab his belt, holster, and finally; light blue vest.

Before long the shuttle spurred into the Naboo atmosphere and set for landing.

When the ship finally touched down, Harris walked towards the boarding ramp to see a barely cleaned up B1-176.

"I thought I told you to clean up." Harris smirked lightly,
"And I thought you said you we're going to look nice." The droid paused, "So much for first impression."
"Alright, that's enough. Let's go, we are running late."

The ramp slid downwards and Harris, flanked by Bee, walked smoothly down and towards the structure that Ra'a'mah was supposed to be in. Two knocks later, the door slid open. Harris stepped in, looking clean, but visibly older and out of uniform; something most of his old friends had never seen.

He accepted a refreshment and followed Vincent to an office, before stepping in.

"It's great to see you again, Harris. Was your journey smooth?"

"I can't complain,"
"That's a first."
"It's nice to see you too. This is Bee, please excuse his input." Harris hesitated for a second as he looked at Riamah, she seemed different, although it's not suprising someone would change over a decade. "I hope we didn't leave you waiting. These hyperlane collapses slowed us down a bit and we had to take a longer route."

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Being satisfied with Harris's answer, she motioned for him to take a seat. Even if this was a business proposition, they were still old friends, and she grabbed her datapad from the desk and sat down in the chair next to him. They had also worked together briefly with the Metal Lords, and in remembering them, she wondered how those rascally droids were doing.

"Remember our time with the Metal Lords? Bee is fine to be as he is. As long as he's free to leave if he wants to."

There had been a time in her life when the Bee would have scared her. HK and the other Lords had helped her get over that fear, and now she promoted freedom for them when she could.

"Not at all. Even if you had arrived tomorrow, it would have been fine and within reason with how the hyperlanes are. Did you have to reroute much? Beyond the longer route you had to take, I mean."

Ra still held the datapad and waited for his reply before she would finish the small talk.

William Harris

 

[William Harris]

"Not at all. Even if you had arrived tomorrow, it would have been fine and within reason with how the hyperlanes are. Did you have to reroute much? Beyond the longer route you had to take, I mean."

Harris nodded lightly, "The droid is free to leave."

"He is too attached for me to go now."- Bee cut off with an almost joyous tone.

"As for your other question, yes, I did. It should have been a straight shot from my contact near Yaga Minor to here, but I had to stop in the Chandrilla system, the Barkura System, and finally Rendilli before I could get here."

Harris pulled out the chair slightly before sitting. He was relaxed, leaning slightly forward in his seat. He remembered the Metal Lord fondly; it was strange how shock therapy had cured him of his fear of droids. Regardless, Harris cleared his mind and peeked in Ra'a'mah direction, letting the pause sit for a moment while she sifted though the datapad.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra couldn't help but appreciate the relationship Harris had with his droid. It seemed theirs was similar to what she had with Vincent.

"I'm glad you have decided to stay around. Would you care for an oil bath? I have the best private facility on Naboo."

She noticed how grungy he was, and this was the best way to get him clean. If he said no, she would accept the answer and continue her meeting with her friend.

"Hopefully, the routes will become stable again, or new ones will be found. I still have access to the secret routes that the galaxy forgot about. In my business, it's a tool I use to my advantage. Which is one of the reasons I wanted to meet with you."

Handing him the datapad she had been holding, she took a seat in the chair next to his.

"I have a proposition."

William Harris

 

[B1-176]

ignore

 

[William Harris]

"Didn't think I'd have to come all this way to receive the royal treatment I deserve," The droid jokingly stated before dipping its faceplate lowly in a nodding gesture. Bee gently placed down his backpack in the corner of the office as he stood expectantly.

"Be careful with that Bee, I still don't know why you insisted on bringing it. That pack will be the death of us all." Harris side-eyed the pack, a large square-shaped object with lights and a strange glow. He shook his head lightly. That backpack was not just impractical, but the equivalent of carrying a bomb everywhere they went; thrusters aside, it had no proper usage in this meeting or the upcoming job.

Ra passed Harris the datapad. Scrolling slowly and scanning everything before looking up at her.

"I have a proposition."

"I'd love to hear it." He thought for a moment, the wages weren't an issue, especially with his upcoming senate appointment. What the job was, however, was still not entirely clear. Harris was just happy to help an old friend.

Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

After a few moments, Vincent entered and asked for Bee to follow him. Once the droid was out of the room, Ra turned her attention back to Harris. Allowing him the time to look over the datapad, it held information about her work, what she did, and what he would be doing under her command.

"As you know, I was working for the Dominion. After them, I went to the Metal Lords. They ultimately merged with the Free World Coalition. Since then, I have been assisting Commenor and the Silver Jedi in their trades. When I moved here, I struck up a deal with the Naboo government as well. Things have worked out for me.

"How have you been? It's been quite a while since we last spoke."

She was catching him up on what she had been up to and hoped he would do the same. Giving him time to answer, she waited until he finished before giving him her proposition.

"I have control of a small fleet of commercial vessels. They're not built for war or battle, but it would keep your feet wet in the spacefaring department."

William Harris

 

[William Harris]

"As you know, I was working for the Dominion. After them, I went to the Metal Lords. They ultimately merged with the Free World Coalition. Since then, I have been assisting Commenor and the Silver Jedi in their trades. When I moved here, I struck up a deal with the Naboo government as well. Things have worked out for me.

"How have you been? It's been quite a while since we last spoke."

Harris nodded lightly

"I've been alright. I received a nomination for the seat of Osseriton in the Galactic Alliance's Senate. Before that, wandering."

Harris paused for a moment, looking as if he was gonna say more. He caught himself and looked at Ra as if he was finished.

"I have control of a small fleet of commercial vessels. They're not built for war or battle, but it would keep your feet wet in the spacefaring department."

"Well, you have my interest. What would the job be?"

Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

"That seemed to be the fate of the Metal Lords. They like to wander."

She drummed her fingers on her desk as she spoke and waited for his answer. Other than a short time with the Dominion, Ra had avoided getting involved with politics. It just gave her a headache and stress she didn't need in her life. Give her a good shipment and solid route, and she was happy. This outlook and way of life had brought her good fortune and a family.

"Well, as I said. Getting a small fleet of cargo vessels from different ports across the galaxy. As long as you don't have a price on your head anywhere. Those can be so bothersome at times."

Speaking as if she were familiar with the situation, there were ways to get out of trouble, and she could help him if he needed it.

William Harris